Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Foot operated
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-02
2003-02-18
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Foot operated
C180S334000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06520045
ABSTRACT:
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-102233 filed Apr. 4, 2000, the contents of which are incorporated hereinto by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pedal device for a vehicle, such as a brake pedal device and an accelerator pedal device, and more particularly to improvements of a vehicle pedal device assembly wherein the positions of operating portions of two or more pedals in their non-operated state are adjustable in the longitudinal or running direction of the vehicle.
2. Discussion of Related Art
JP-Y1-51-22218 discloses a pedal device for an automotive vehicle, which includes (a) a stationary bracket fixed on the body of the vehicle and having a support shaft and an adjusting shaft, (b) a pivotal arm disposed pivotally about the support shaft, to provide an output in the form of a pivotal motion thereof about the support shaft, (c) an adjusting link connected pivotally to the adjusting shaft, and pivotable by an adjusting mechanism about the adjusting shaft so that the adjusting link is positioned to a predetermined angular position, (d) a manually operable pedal connected to the adjusting link pivotally relative to the adjusting link about a first connecting shaft parallel to the support shaft, the pedal having an operating portion at which the pedal is operated by an operator of the vehicle, for a pivotal motion thereof about the first connecting shaft, and (e) a drive link connecting the pedal and the pivotal arm such that the drive link is pivotable about a second connecting shaft and a third connecting shaft which are disposed parallel to the support shaft, at respective positions which cooperate with the positions of the adjusting shaft and the first connecting shaft to define a rectangle, the drive link cooperating with the adjusting link to position the pedal with a predetermined attitude, the drive link being operable to pivot the pivotal arm about the support shaft when the pedal is pivoted about the first connecting shaft upon operation of the pedal at its operating portion, (f) and wherein the adjusting mechanism is operable to effect a pivotal motion of the adjusting link about the adjusting shaft, for thereby causing an arcuate motion of the pedal in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle together with a pivotal motion of the drive link about the third connecting shaft, so that the position of the operating portion of the pedal in its non-operated state is moved in the longitudinal direction. A single shaft may serve as the support shaft and the adjusting shaft. The pedal device constructed as described above permits an adjustment of the position of the operating portion of the pedal depending upon the specific physical characteristics of the vehicle operator, thereby facilitating the manipulation of the pedal by the operator.
The known vehicle pedal device described above is adapted to adjust the position of the operating portion of a single pedal such as a brake pedal or an accelerator pedal in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Where the vehicle has a plurality of pedals whose non-operated positions are adjustable as described above, two or more mutually independent mechanisms are required for the respective pedals, so that a pedal device assembly including the two or more pedals tends to be large-sized, requiring a relatively large space for installation on the vehicle and a relatively high cost of manufacture.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,643,525 discloses a vehicle pedal device assembly wherein two manually operable pedals are connected to respective two threaded shafts which are disposed to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and which are pivotable in synchronization with each other through a flexible cable, to concurrently adjust the positions of their operating portions in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. While this pedal device assembly uses a single drive source, this pedal device assembly requires two sets of mechanisms for positional adjustment of the two pedals in the longitudinal direction, resulting in a relatively large size of the assembly. Further, it is practically difficult to thread the cable through the assembly upon installation of the assembly on the vehicle. Thus, the known vehicle pedal device assembly is not satisfactory. In addition, this pedal device assembly has a larger dimension in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle than the above-described pedal device disclosed in JP-Y1-51-22218, due to the two threaded shafts extending in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, the pedal device assembly disclosed in the above-identified U.S. Patent is not desirable from the standpoint of the required installation space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pedal device assembly for an automotive vehicle, which assembly is simple and compact in construction, economical to manufacture and capable of concurrent adjustments of the positions of the operating portions of a plurality of pedals in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
The above object may be achieved according to any one of the following modes of the present invention, each of which depends from the other mode or modes, where appropriate, to indicate and clarify possible combinations of elements or technical features.
(1) A pedal device assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a stationary bracket fixed to a body of the vehicle and having a support shaft and an adjusting shaft;
a pivotal arm disposed pivotally about the support shaft, to provide an output in the form of a pivotal motion thereof about the support shaft;
an adjusting mechanism;
an adjusting link connected pivotally to the adjusting shaft, and pivotable by the adjusting mechanism so that the adjusting link is positioned to a predetermined angular position;
a manually operable first pedal connected to the adjusting link pivotally relative to the adjusting link about a first connecting shaft parallel to the support shaft, the first pedal having an operating portion at which the first pedal is operated by an operator of the vehicle, for a pivotal motion thereof about the first connecting shaft;
a drive link connecting the first pedal and the pivotal arm such that the drive link is pivotable about a second connecting shaft and a third connecting shaft which are disposed parallel to the support shaft, at respective positions which cooperate with positions of the adjusting shaft and the first connecting shaft to define a rectangle, the drive link cooperating with the adjusting link to position the first pedal with a predetermined attitude, and being operable to pivot the pivotal arm about the support shaft when the first pedal is pivoted about the first connecting shaft upon operation of the first pedal at the operating portion;
the adjusting mechanism being operable to effect a pivotal motion of the adjusting link about the adjusting shaft, for thereby causing an arcuate motion of the first pedal in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle together with a pivotal motion of the drive link about the third connecting shaft, so that a position of the operating portion in a non-operated state of the first pedal is moved in the longitudinal direction;
a pedal holding member pivotally supporting a second pedal and disposed pivotally about a mounting shaft provided on the adjusting link in parallel with the support shaft, the second pedal having an operating portion; and
a connecting link connecting the pedal holding member and a stationary member fixed to the body of the vehicle, to position the pedal holding member with a predetermined attitude, the connecting link being pivotable about a fourth connecting shaft and a fifth connecting shaft which are disposed parallel to the support shaft, at respective positions which cooperate with the positions of the adjusting shaft and the mounting shaft to define a rectangle, the connecting link,
and wherein the connecting link is pivoted about the fifth connecting shaft upon the pivotal motion of the adjusting l
Fukase Akihiko
Mitsuyama Soshi
Bucci David A.
Hansen Colby
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
Toyoda Iron Works Co., Ltd.
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